FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – Two people are facing charges of first-degree murder in the death of a 60-year-old man found in the back of a pickup truck near a park in St. Louis County. 52-year-old James Miller and 56-year-old Deborah Lewis are also charged with armed criminal action. Both are jailed without bond. Police found the victim’s body wrapped in a blanket in the back of a pickup around 7 a.m. Saturday near January-Wabash Park in Ferguson.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Supporters of legislation that would let Missouri electric utilities seek permission for an infrastructure surcharge are suggesting adding an expiration date, a lower cap on charges and refunds for improper costs. The changes are in a revised version of the legislation that was provided Monday to The Associated Press by the Senate sponsor’s office. Under the new version, the proposal would expire in 2033 unless renewed by the Legislature and the cap on the possible surcharge would be lowered. Supporters of the legislation say the changes make it better for consumers. Opponents say the changes don’t do enough.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is applauding a federal judge’s decision to stop pipeline construction on the Northwest Area Water Supply project in North Dakota. Officials in Missouri fear it could deplete the river. The state has sued, as has the Canadian province of Manitoba. Officials there worry about the possible transfer of harmful organisms into their waters. In Judge Rosemary Collyer’s latest ruling, the work must stop until federal officials are done studying all aspects of the 11 year-old project.Nixon says in a statement that the river is vital to Missouri and needs protection.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (AP) – A southeast Missouri teenager is facing multiple counts of statutory rape and child molestation for allegedly having sex with six eighth-grade girls in two counties. Court filings suggest 18-year-old Austin Luye (loo) of Perryville typically approached girls on Facebook, then met them in public and lured them to a secluded place for sex. Luye is charged in Perry and St. Francois (FRAN’-sis) counties. Authorities say most of the victims were age 13. Luye is jailed in Farmington on $110,000 cash-only bond.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will depart Friday for South Korea and Taiwan to sign several trade agreements. He is to be accompanied by first lady Georganne Nixon, the directors of the departments of agriculture and economic development and four state lawmakers. The delegation also includes representatives of several businesses, agricultural groups and universities. The governor’s costs are being covered by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic development. The itinerary includes a visit to Taipei, Taiwan and Seoul, South Korea.

MARCELINE, Mo. (AP) – The tiny northern Missouri town of Marceline thought it was making a good deal in 2004 when it agreed to buy almost all of its electricity from the Prairie State Energy Campus. Instead, it has turned into a fiscal nightmare. Marceline is expected to lose almost $1.4 million this year – equal to more than $600 for each of the city’s 2,200 residents. City Manager Luke Lewis wants to negotiate an exit with Prairie State but doesn’t rule out defaulting on the contract. The 1,600-megawatt Prairie State plant in southwestern Illinois cost about $4 billion to develop – twice the original estimate. Advocates say Prairie State will eventually prove beneficial.

Mike is the Saturday morning anchor and also sits in for news staff periodically.
He has been with KMZU since April of 2009.
He learned his craft over the years at various radio stations in Missouri before making a home for himself at KMZU.
If you wish to contact Mr. Stone please send emails to mikes@kmzu.com or news@kmzu.com.